Recommended Dog Food Brands as of APRIL 2015

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

GRAIN-FREE FORMULAS ONLY

Orijen (our favorite grain-free food)

Formulas:  Puppy, Large Breed Puppy, Adult (chicken, turkey, fish), 6 Fish, Regional Red (boar, lamb, pork, bison), Senior (lower calorie chicken, turkey, fish) , Tundra (goat, venison, mutton, duck, rabbit, fish)
Website:  http://www.orijen.ca/orijen/products/
 

Zignature

Formulas: Duck, Lamb, Trout & Salmon, Turkey, Zssential (multi-protein)

Also has canned lines.

Website:  http://www.zignature.com/

 

GRAIN-FREE & HEALTHY GRAIN FORMULAS

Acana

Grain-free Formulas (Regionals):  Wild Prairie (chicken, whitefish), Pacifica (salmon, flounder, herring); Grasslands (lamb, duck, fish); Ranchlands (beef, lamb, herring)

Healthy Grain Formulas (Classics):  Puppy Small Breed, Puppy & Junior, Puppy Large Breed, Adult Small Breed, Adult Dog, Adult Large Breed, Sport & Agility, Light & Fit, Senior Dog (all contain chicken and flounder for protein)

Limited Ingredients Formulas (Singles):  Lamb & Apple, Duck & Pear, Pork & Butternut Squash

Website:  http://www.championpetfoods.com/acana/products.php

 

Fromm

Grain-free Formulas:  Surf & Turf (salmon, duck, chicken); Beef Frittata Veg, Salmon Tunalini, Game Bird (duck, turkey, quail pheasant), Lamb & Lentil, Pork & Peas 

Healthy Grain Formulas:  Pork & Applesauce, Duck & Sweet Potato, Chicken A La Veg, Whitefish & Potato, Salmon A La Veg (all part of the Four-Star line); Adult Gold, Large Breed Adult Gold, Puppy Gold, Large Breed Puppy Gold, Senior Gold (all Gold lines contain duck, chicken and lamb); Adult and Mature Adult Classics (both Classic lines contain chicken)

Website:  http://frommfamily.com/products 

 

Petcurean

Grain-free Formulas (Now Fresh & Go! Fit & Free lines):  Now Fresh Puppy, Adult, Small Breed, Senior, Large Breed Puppy, Large Breed Adult, Large Breed Senior (all contain turkey, salmon, duck), Go! Fit & Free Puppy, Adult and Senior (all contain chicken, turkey, salmon)

Healthy Grain Formulas (Go! Daily Defiance & Summit Holistic lines):  Go! Daily Defiance Chicken, Lamb (both all life stages), Summit 3 Meat Puppy, 3 Meat Adult, 3 Meat Reduced Calorie (3 Meats contain chicken, salmon, lamb),

Limited Ingredients Formulas (Go! Sensitivity & Shine line): Duck, Salmon, Grain Free Turkey

Website:  http://www.petcurean.com/

 

Solid Gold

Grain-free Formulas:  Barking at the Moon (fish, beef); Sun Dancer (chicken)

Healthy Grain Formulas:  Hundchen Flocken Puppy, Hund-n-Flocken Adult (both contain lamb); Wolfcub Puppy, Wolfking Adult (both contain bison), Holistique Blendz Senior (fish), MMillennia Beef & Barley Adult, Just a Wee Bit Adult (bison)

Website:  http://www.solidgoldhealth.com/products

 

Wellness

Grain-free Formulas (Core line):  Puppy, Small Breed, Original, Reduced Fat (all contain chicken, turkey), Ocean (fish)

Healthy Grain Formulas (Super5Mix line):  Chicken, Lamb, Barley & Salmon Meal, Whitefish & Sweet Potato, Healthy Weight, Just for Puppies, Just for Seniors, Adult Large Breed, Puppy Large Breed, Adult Small Breed, Small Breed Healthy Weight, Small Breed Puppy (final 8 contain chicken)

Limited Ingredients Formulas (Simple Solutions line):  Duck & Oatmeal, Salmon & Potato, Turkey & Potato, Lamb & Oatmeal

Website:  http://www.wellnesspetfood.com/dog-wellness.aspx

 

Horizon

Grain-free Formulas (Legacy line):  Puppy, Adult (both contain chicken, salmon, turkey); Also has Amicus line for small breeds (turkey, chicken, salmon); Also has Pulsar line with peas, lentils, chicken and fish

Healthy Grain Formulas (Complete line):  Large Breed Adult, Large Breed Puppy, Puppy, Adult, Senior (all contain chicken)

Website:  http://www.horizonpetnutrition.com/

 

Canidae

Grain-free Formulas (Pure):  Sky (duck, turkey), Land (bison, lamb), Element (chicken, turkey, lamb, ocean fish), Sea (salmon)

Healthy Grain Formulas:  Lamb & Rice, Chicken & Rice, Beef & Fish, ALS (chicken, turkey, lamb, fish), Platinum Senior (chicken, turkey, lamb, fish)

Limited Ingredient Formulas:  Chicken, Brown & White Rice (Single Grain Protein)

Website:  http://www.canidae.com/

 

Lotus (has a raw formula also)

Grain-free Formula:  Duck

Healthy Grain Formulas: Wholesome Chicken, Wholesome Chicken Puppies, Wholesome Chicken Seniors, Wholesome Lamb

Website:  http://lotuspetfoods.com/for-dogs.php

 

Earthborn Holistic

Grain-free Formulas:  Primitive Natural (turkey, chicken, whitefish), Coastal Catch (herring, salmon, whitefish), Great Plains Feast (bison), Meadow Feast (lamb)

Healthy Grain Formulas: Adult Vantage, Puppy Vantage and Small Breed (all contain chicken and whitefish), Ocean Fusion (whitefish and menhaden fish)

Website:  http://www.earthbornholisticpetfood.com/us/dog_formulas/

 

Eagle Holistic Select

Grain Free Formulas: Adult & Puppy Salmon, Anchovy and Sardines

Healthy Grain Formulas:  Adult, Adult Small & Mini Breed, Puppy, Puppy Small & Mini Breed (all 4 contain anchovy, sardines, salmon), Adult Chicken Meal & Rice, Adult Duck, Adult Lamb, Senior Chicken & Rice, Large & Giant Breed Chicken & Oatmeal, Large & Giant Breed Puppy Lamb Meal & Oatmeal, Weight Maintenance Chicken & Peas

Website:  http://www.holisticselect.com/

 

Holistic Blend

Grain Free Formulas: Turkey

Healthy Grain Formulas: Hollistic Blend (Lamb & Rice; Chicken, Rice & Vegetable) and The Healthy Dog (Chicken & Herring Meal)

Website: http://www.holisticblend.com/en/food-formulas/dog-formulas/holistic-blend/

 

Addiction

Grain Free Formulas: Salmon Bleu, Viva La Venison, Le Lamb

Healthy Grain Formulas: La Porchetta (Pork, Limited ingredient)

**Also has raw dehydrated formulas**

Website: http://addictionfoods.com/

 

Great Life

Grain Free Formulas: Buffalo, Chicken, Salmon; Pioneers Natural Grain Free Chicken, GF Pork, GF Venison and GF Whitefist

Healthy Grain Formulas: Buffalo, Chicken, Lamb, Salmon; Pioneers Natural Buffalo, Chicken, Pork Venison and Whitefish

Limited Ingredient Formulas (Dr. E's line): Buffalo, Duck; Grain Free Buffalo, Grain Free Duck

Website: http://doctorsfinest.com

 

Annamaet

Grain Free Formulas: Lean (chicken, duck, herring), Aqualuk (salmon, herring), Salcha (chicken, turkey, duck), Manitok (lamb, venison)

Healthy Grain Formulas: Adult (chicken, 23% protein), Encore (chicken, 25% protein), Extra (chicken, 26% protein), Option (salmon and venison, 24% protein), Ultra (chicken, 32% protein), Small Breed ALS (lamb, venison, coming soon)

Website: http://annamaet.com/

 

Nature's Variety (has a raw line also)

Grain Free Formulas: Instinct Raw Boost (5 formulas: chicken, beef & lamb, lamb & salmon, duck & turkey, venison & lamb); Instinct Originals (5 formulas: chicken, beef & lamb, duck & turkey, rabbit, salmon)

Healthy Grain Formulas: Prairie Dogs (6 formulas: chicken, beef, lamb, duck, venison, salmon); Puppy and Large Breed Puppy (chicken and brown rice)

Limited Ingredient Formulas (Instinct Grain Free line): Turkey, Lamb, Duck, Rabbitt

Website: http://www.naturesvariety.com/

 

Farmina 

Grain Free Formulas (N&D line): Chicken, Large Breed Chicken, Small Breed Chicken, Wild Lamb, Wild Boar, Wild Herring

Healthy Grain Formulas (20% Ancestral High Protein line): Chicken, Lamb, Wild Cod

Website: http://usa.farmina.com/

HEALTHY GRAIN FORMULAS ONLY

 

Chicken Soup for the Dog Lovers Soul

Healthy Grain Formulas: Adult, Large Breed Adult, Senior, Adult Light, Puppy, Large Breed Puppy, Overweight (all contain chicken, turkey).

Website:  http://www.chickensoupforthepetloverssoul.com/products/dogs/

  

 

RAW FORMULAS ONLY

Darwin's:  http://www.darwinspet.com

Honest Kitchen:  http://www.thehonestkitchen.com/

Primal:  http://www.primalpetfoods.com/

Ziwi Peak:  http://www.ziwipeak.com/

Stella & Chewy’s:  http://www.stellaandchewys.com/

Sojos:  http://www.sojos.com/

Tucker's Raw:  http://www.tuckersbones.com/

I and love and you (also has kibble):  http://www.iandloveandyou.com/products/dog/raw/dehydrated.aspx

Addiction (also has kibble):  http://www.addictionfoods.com/

 

RX/PRESCRIPTION FORMULAS ONLY

Rayne Clinical Nutrition: http://www.raynenutrition.com/

 

** Brands that look good but have had recent recalls or buyouts; still better than Iams, Nutro, Hills, and grocery store junk…..

 

Taste of the Wild (grain-free): http://www.tasteofthewildpetfood.com/products

EVO (grain-free): http://www.evopet.com

Innova (healthy grains):  http://www.innovapet.com

California Natural (recommended for dogs with sensitivities):  http://www.californianaturalpet.com

Merrick (Before Grain is grain-free; 5-Star is healthy grains; Castor & Pollux is also owned by Merrick):  http://www.merrickpetcare.com/ | http://www.castorpolluxpet.com

Evanger’s:  http://www.evangersdogfood.com/

Natural Balance (known for limited ingredient diets; merged with DelMonte 6/15/13): http://www.naturalbalanceinc.com/

Bravo (raw; more than one recall in last year):  http://www.bravorawdiet.com/

Blue Buffalo (may have byproducts in their ingredients):   http://www.bluebuffalo.com/dry-dog-food

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

From the very limited information available on the website, it looks great. However, it is available only as a canned food and not meant to be fed as the main diet, but rather as a topper or addition to kibble or commercial raw diets, from what I can tell. Unfortunately, there is no nutritional analysis provided on the website, but the website descriptions for the products do state "Mix with dry or raw food". 

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

The canned variety has been out for a while. I once bought a can and opened it up and vomitted because of the smell. And I don't have a weak stomach.  I have never bought it since. But from what I hear (but not from any authoritative source on the matter) it is a good product.

[Hazel & Chester Wayte]

Actually it is the Tripe Dry  Kibble I was wondering about - I think it is new. Maybe I gave you the wrong link.

http://petkind.com/tdlt

But it doesn't look like a lot of info.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

LOL, their website is not very "user-friendly", is it?

The dry tripe kibble is only available in Canada, not the US, and I was looking at the USA part of the website.

The company that supposedly makes this brand is located right here in IL from what I can tell: http://siemerenterprises.com/about.html

Although I'm having a hard time figuring out if they actually make it or just distribute it, since they also list Chicken Soup, Addiction, Darford, Fromm, Plato, and Pure Bites among their brands. And I know the same company doesn't make all of those, lol. 

In all honesty, I'm not sure why anyone would want to feed this on a regular basis, just due to what I've heard about the smell. But it looks fine in terms of ingredients, analysis, and sourcing if you want to try it. . 

[Judy Gordon]

Hi. Just joined this discussion and there is so much information that I skipped to the most recent posts. I am looking for information on Merrick recalls. Miah has been on a GF diet for about a year. We tried several GF brands and found that Merrick Duck and Potato worked well. She is no longer vomiting, or experiencing frequent diarrhea and her ears are clear from infection. And she likes it! Of course I add chicken, venison when I can get it or other protein, spinach or other green veggies and sweet potato. She never just gets it dry and this diet has worked well for her.

So we just became Guardians to Ripley, a 15 week old Doodle. The breeder feeds specific brands to all of her dogs and requires we feed him Acana, Annamaet, Origen and a couple other brands. We bought Ripley home with a bag of Acana Prairie Wild and he loves it. He also loves Miah's Merrick so it's a challenge feeding two dogs different foods when they want to eat whatever the other dog is eating. I am bound by the Guardian contract to feed Ripley only approved food. The breeder is totally against Merrick and sent me a link of FDA recalls. I was never able to get into the link from any of my devices so I still don't know what or when Merrick products were recalled. I researched online and only found a 2010 recall of a treat. I looked at the list of recalls on this discussion and saw that same 2010 recalled product but nothing about the GF kibble.

Our trainer's opinion is that Merrick is a good product and if it works for Miah we should continue feeding her what works. The Acana Prairie lists ALFALFA in it's ingredients so it's not entirely GF. And when Miah stole the food in Ripley's bowl, she got diarrhea. Probably more because it was a sudden change from her usual diet than anything else. So until there is proof that Merrick is not a quality food, has recent recalls or raises health concerns, we will continue to feed Miah what has apparently given her a healthy coat, clear ears, and good digestion. And she likes it! If anyone has info about Merrick, please share.
Thanks!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

First, alfalfa is an herb, not a grain. It's a perennial flowering plant in the pea family. :)

All recalls are posted in the Recall Discussion here in this group. Merrick has had quite a few, but they have mostly been for some of their treats, not the food. Nevertheless, when a company has poor quality control, that affects all of their products. You can do a Google search for "Merrick Recalls" and get the information on all of them. 

While Merrick is not the worst food you can buy by a long shot, the recalls are responsible for the fact that we do not openly recommend the brand, and instead have it on our list of foods that are better than grocery store junk, but which we are cautious about for manufacturing reasons. 

Acana and Orijen (both made by Champion) would always be my first choice of foods for any dog. You cannot buy better quality kibble, and I'm quite impressed that your breeder feeds such an excellent food. Many don't. You might look at the Acana Singles, which are limited ingredient formulas designed for dogs with food sensitivities or sensitive stomachs. 

[Hazel & Chester Wayte]

Thanks.. I appreciate that (as always).

I did think PetKind was based out of BC. But not sure about he dried tripe kibble.

I heard that the food trials went well- in that the dogs liked it .. Chester eats his Acana..but I top it.

So I am always looking for new options.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Hazel, it's time for you to read my favorite discussion on picky eaters and trying to feed your dog foods that he "likes". And if you've already read it, it's time to read it again. (smiley face) 

http://www.doodlekisses.com/group/thefoodgroup/forum/topics/an-ode-...

[Hazel & Chester Wayte]

Hahaha.. Thanks for the gentle reminder. I did reread it.  Monty is just like Chester. I lOVE that discussion too.

Confessions of a Picky Doodle Facilitator.

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

I've been noticing more and more new types of food popping up in the grocery store, mostly made in Canada food. seems to be a fast growing industry. everytime I see one I think, I gotta remember this to tell Karen, but always forget. So today I was in the store and noticed two new brands and decided that was it. I whipped out my phone and made a list of all the foods that I saw, that claim to be natural, holistic, etc., that aren't on the list here.  Here is my list from today. Let me know if you've already researched some of these and ruled them out, if not, I'll look into them.

Spring Naturals

Boreal

Carna4

Precise holistic

Oven Baked

Now

Go

First Mate

Stella and Chewy's

Canine Plus Wholesome Blend

[Abigail *George & Juno*]

now and go i think are petcurean formulas, a specialty pet food store about 30 minutes away carries them. Stella & Chewy's is a raw company. All three are on the Recommended list. I'm not sure about the rest but I'm sure Karen or Allison will chime in. :)

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Stella & Chewy's has been on our list for some time, not new. Now & Go are two of Petcurean's lines, as you can see above, lol. I have a feeling some of these other things you listed are also not brands but rather formulas. (I really doubt "Oven Baked" is the name of the brand, lol)

I'm pretty sure we've talked about First Mate here, if I remember correctly, the company was questionable. Also not new. I think some of the others have come up, too. Let me go do a search.